RFS Vs Ajax

Ajax, the renowned Dutch football giants, will travel to Latvia on Thursday to face Rīgas Futbola Skola (RFS) in a critical fixture in the Europa League’s League Phase. This match will be crucial for both teams for very different reasons, with Ajax looking to secure a spot in the competition's knockout stage, while RFS is struggling at the bottom of the standings.

Rīgas Futbola Skola, currently sitting near the bottom of the 36-team table, have been a notable underdog in this year's Europa League competition. Despite this, Ajax is determined to secure the points necessary to guarantee automatic progression into the last 16, where the stakes are considerably higher. RFS has faced immense challenges during their maiden Europa League campaign, struggling to accumulate points. They are one of only five teams across the 36-team standings that have failed to secure a win from their opening six matches in this newly implemented League Phase. This poor form has left them in a precarious position with very little hope of advancing.

In their most recent outing, RFS suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Maccabi Tel-Aviv on December 12, 2024. This loss pushed them further down the table to 34th place, where they remain with a mere two points. They are now five points behind the coveted spots that would see them progress to the last-16 playoff positions. With only two games left in the group stage, RFS's chances of qualification have become slim. Despite the challenges in the Europa League, RFS have had some domestic success. The Latvian club concluded their domestic season in November 2024, clinching the Latvian top-flight title for the third time in four years, showcasing their domestic dominance. However, their focus has now shifted to keeping their fitness levels high through a series of friendly fixtures, attempting to remain competitive in Europe.

Since their defeat to Maccabi Tel-Aviv, RFS has managed to string together a decent run of results in friendlies, winning two and drawing one from their last three matches. They experienced a disappointing 2-1 loss to Nomme Kalju but responded impressively with a dominant 7-0 victory over Super Nova, followed by a narrow 1-0 win against Zalgiris in their most recent outing. While these results are encouraging, they remain insignificant in the context of their European ambitions, and the upcoming clash with Ajax looms large for RFS, who will need a remarkable turnaround to salvage their European hopes.

One key aspect that highlights RFS's difficulties in European competition is their poor historical record. Heading into this fixture, they have not won a single one of their last 12 matches in European competitions, having drawn four and lost eight. This run of poor form in Europe makes them one of the least successful teams in the tournament’s history, with only Vaduz from Liechtenstein and Pezoporkos Larnaka from Cyprus having played more games in European competitions without ever winning, having failed to win in 16 and 14 matches, respectively.

In stark contrast to RFS’s struggles, Ajax’s fortunes have been slightly more promising as they look to bounce back from a series of setbacks. The Dutch giants were recently knocked out of the KNVB Beker, the Dutch Cup, after a defeat to AZ Alkmaar in the last 16, but Ajax found redemption in their most recent Eredivisie fixture. On January 20, 2025, Ajax secured a 2-0 win against Heerenveen, a crucial victory that boosted their confidence and hopes of securing the Eredivisie title. The two goals from Josip Sutalo and Chuba Akpom were enough to see off Heerenveen and lift Ajax to within a point of Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven, who suffered their second defeat in four matches that same weekend. This win was vital for Ajax, especially after their earlier domestic cup exit, and has allowed them to stay in the race for the Eredivisie title. 

For Ajax, their domestic league aspirations will take a back seat, at least temporarily, as they shift their full focus to the Europa League. With a pivotal league fixture against Feyenoord coming up on February 2, 2025, they must first concentrate on securing a strong finish to their group-stage campaign in the Europa League. The match against RFS represents the penultimate opportunity to accumulate the necessary points to guarantee qualification for the knockout rounds. Currently, Ajax occupies 11th place in the 36-team Europa League standings with 10 points, having won three, drawn one, and lost two of their six matches. They are only one point behind the top eight teams, who are positioned to automatically secure a place in the last-16.

Given Ajax’s current standing, they must perform strongly in their remaining two fixtures, against RFS and Galatasaray, to avoid being eliminated from the competition at the first hurdle for the second consecutive season. The pressure is mounting on Ajax to avoid repeating last season's disappointment, where they were knocked out at the same stage of the competition.

Despite Ajax’s strong domestic form, their away record in Europe has been less than stellar, with only one win from their last eight Europa League away fixtures. This poor away form could be a concern as they prepare to face RFS on Thursday. However, there is some optimism for Ajax given the historical success of Dutch clubs in European competitions. Dutch teams have won six of their last eight encounters with Latvian opposition, keeping clean sheets in each of those six victories. Ajax will be hoping that this trend continues as they aim to bolster their hopes of progressing further in the competition.

The stakes are high for both teams heading into this encounter, albeit for vastly different reasons. RFS will need to put aside their poor European record and rise to the occasion if they are to have any hope of salvaging their campaign. They will take heart from their domestic success and recent friendly performances, but their lack of European victories is a significant concern. On the other hand, Ajax will need to remain focused and assertive as they look to navigate through the final stages of the group phase and secure the points needed to guarantee their place in the knockout rounds.

As the match draws near, all eyes will be on how both teams approach this crucial fixture. RFS will need to deliver an upset of monumental proportions to keep their European hopes alive, while Ajax must demonstrate the resilience and quality that has defined their domestic season if they are to secure the win they so desperately need. The outcome of this fixture could have far-reaching consequences, not only for the two teams involved but also for the broader context of the Europa League, as teams vie for the remaining spots in the knockout stage. The final whistle will inevitably be a defining moment in the careers of the players and coaches involved, and both teams will be hoping for a positive result that will set them on the path toward greater success.